The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought between U.S. Marines and Japanese defenders on a strategically located volcanic island in the Pacific. The fighting was exceptionally brutal due to entrenched Japanese defenses, tunnels, and the determination of both sides.

Iwo Jima became one of the most famous battles of the Pacific War because of its intensity, its symbolic image of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi, and its role in the final stages of the war against Japan.

Why It Matters

• One of the fiercest island battles of World War II
• Became an enduring symbol of U.S. military sacrifice
• Part of the hard road toward Japan's defeat

Reference:

Wikipedia: Battle of Iwo Jima

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Iwo_Jima